Gaza GenoLIE: The campaign fighting “a modern blood libel”

The Gaza GenoLIE campaign, a joint initiative of over 100 pro-Israel and Jewish organizations from more than 20 countries, aims to counter accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Launched shortly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, the campaign argues that these accusations are a "modern blood libel" designed to delegitimize Israel and fuel antisemitism. It emphasizes the legal definition of genocide, which requires specific intent to destroy a group, and highlights Israel's efforts to minimize civilian casualties, such as evacuation warnings and humanitarian pauses. The campaign, which includes a billboard in Times Square, seeks to restore factual accuracy to the public debate and prevent the "lie [from hardening] into accepted history," according to Sara Friedman, CEO of World Jewish Congress Israel. Arié Bensemhoun, executive director of ELNET France, states that the campaign "seeks to invert that history" by portraying Israel, a state born from the ashes of genocide, as a perpetrator.